Gerry Septer

A memorial service for Gerry Septer will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at the Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at noon Friday at the United Methodist Church in Pella with family present from 5 to 7 p.m.

Lois Geraldine “Gerry” Septer was born on July 11, 1928, to Melis and Marie Van Gilst Otten of rural Killduff, Iowa.  She was the second of three daughters.  She passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House at the age of 84.

She attended Newton High School and graduated with the class of 1947. On Dec. 29, 1949, Gerry was united in marriage with Marion Septer at the United Methodist parsonage in Killduff, Iowa. They were blessed with four daughters: Nancy, Mary, Carolyn, and Cheryl.

Gerry lived her entire married life on her husband’s family farm. Gerry continued to live on the farm after Marion’s death in February, 2005.  She moved to Vriendschap Village in Pella in August of 2007 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.  She was a life-long member of the Killduff United Methodist Church where she was a children’s Sunday School teacher. After moving to Pella she attended the Pella United Methodist Church.  Gerry will be remembered as an awesome cook, enjoyed reading, word search puzzles, and gardening.  Her greatest joys in life were her family and church.

Gerry is survived by her four daughters and their spouses, Nancy and Merlin Terlouw of Reasnor, Iowa, Mary and Melvin Ranfeld of Deep River, Iowa, Carolyn and Gerald Kramer of Pella, Iowa, and Cheryl Septer of Sully, Iowa; five grandchildren, Craig and Candace Ranfeld of Grimes, Steve and Krista Terlouw of rural Newton, Cheri Ranfeld and her fiancé Doug Hayes of Des Moines and Sharla Kramer and Kyle Kramer of Pleasant Hill; two great-grandsons, Miguel Ranfeld and Landen Terlouw; two sisters: Marjorie Sneller of Jefferson City, Mo., and Joyce Ritter of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marion; and two brother-in-laws, Nick Sneller and Howard Ritter.

A private burial will take place at the Sully Cemetery. The Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.